TT2000 Twenty Twenty

[wpoll]

It's coming soon.... :soon:

[biggo]

This is getting exciting :drool:

[banditrider]

I'm ready...

[banditrider]

This is getting exciting :drool:

Yeah only 7 months to go. Time to breakout Basecamp I reckon...

[biggo]

It's coming soon.... :soon:

Must be getting close now Wayne :ride:

[wpoll]

Outside it’s dark, the wind is howling and the rain is near-horizontal… and we have just the thing to make you forget all that….

The 2020 TT2000 Long Distance Motorcycle Rally is now open for registrations!

In a first for the TT2000 rally, the 2020 event will be entirely a North Island affair, with a format similar to that used in the South Island event in 2019.

The rally is also a tad later than usual, being held on 28th February - 1st March 2020.

The wonderful Ashhurst Inn (in Ashhurst, near Palmerston North) is hosting the start and finish and from there you’ll need to visit 16 compulsory checkpoints, along with as many mystery checkpoints as you can locate and as many “flyers” as you choose to visit.

So dust off the maps and the mouse, get yourself a warm drink (or a cold drink that’ll warm you!) and start your planning now…

https://www.tt2000.org

We hope to see you all in Ashhurst in late February 2020!

Cheers,

Wayne
TT HQ

[veldthui]

Thanks Wayne. Very nice. Had a super quick planning and looks like I can sleep in my own bed Saturday night. Always a bonus. Found two mystery check points already. Helps when I drive past one of them every single day:msn-wink:

Looking forward to it and have registered. Now to see if I can get the days off work if they don't fall right for me.

[Emptywallet]

Good work Wayne.
Well, it's been 42 years since I last rode in the North Island, so the maps will need a good dusting off.
The wife's still keen for another TT (number 5), we've located all four mysteries, so let the planning begin - see you at the start.

[wpoll]

Good work Wayne.
Well, it's been 42 years since I last rode in the North Island, so the maps will need a good dusting off.
The wife's still keen for another TT (number 5), we've located all four mysteries, so let the planning begin - see you at the start.

My last ride in the North Island was a little more recent than that but it should have been March or April this year. However, when my TT scouting plans went west, a great bunch of TT riders stepped in and saved the day. Thanks to all who stepped up. :niceone:

Special thanks goes out to whatastoner for his efforts... bloody good on ya!! :headbang::headbang::headbang:

[wpoll]

Thanks Wayne. Very nice. Had a super quick planning and looks like I can sleep in my own bed Saturday night. Always a bonus. Found two mystery check points already. Helps when I drive past one of them every single day:msn-wink:

Looking forward to it and have registered. Now to see if I can get the days off work if they don't fall right for me.

I'm thinking of asking Jacinda to make the start day of the TT a public holiday.... that should sort it for ya, veldthui. :woohoo:

[veldthui]

I'm thinking of asking Jacinda to make the start day of the TT a public holiday.... that should sort it for ya, veldthui. :woohoo:

Nice but still wouldn't work for me. I have to work public holidays if it falls on my day at work. Dairy workers do it it hard but those 4 days off every 8 are nice.

Found the 4 mystery checkpoints and #4 was a hard one. Google Maps street view does not actually show the church as the trees block the camera.

[wpoll]

... Found the 4 mystery checkpoints and #4 was a hard one. Google Maps street view does not actually show the church as the trees block the camera.

Actually, one of the images on the checkpoint web page/pdf is from Google StreetView! :msn-wink:

[NiggleC]

I found Mystery 4 a struggle as well but my daughter had it nailed with 5 minutes of being asked to have a go. The shape of the name on the sign was the give away apparently. Now to work on the route and i find all my other projects (trailer rebuild, LED lighting for house etc) have all gone from my thoughts while I work out a route.

[wpoll]

I've added a link on the TT web site to one of the 2019 rider's video clips - Ogeemoto. Great effort!!

https://www.tt2000.org/previous-tt2000s.html

You can see all of Ogeemoto's videos here...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWn1e81k3vHdt_a3C18Rilg/videos

I've also added some info. on other distance rallies and events coming up...

https://www.tt2000.org/other-distance-rallies.html

You know... just to keep you busy until February 2020... ;)

[Danger Mouse]

Hey everybody, Im considering doing the TT2000 next year and looking at the best way to do route planning.

Is there a quick and dirty way to learn the best tool for this? I see that the tt2000 web page has files for google maps and garmin gps with basecamp or map source.

Im buggered if I can figure out how to create a route from the google maps file, it only lets me see the locations.
Alternatively with basecamp/mapsource (looking at mapsource becuase I can use nzopen gps maps for free), it looks like map source doesnt follow roads when you create a route. is there a way to get this to happen? selecting points for every turn or junction in roads would take forever!

Cheers for your help

[banditrider]

Are you sure you have a map installed on Mapsource? It should definitely be able to plot a route between two checkpoints. You may need to add extra way points to get it to follow a particular set of roads if you don't like what it initially suggests.

Google Maps will do it although it takes some work (as does Mapsource) but if you're planning on running it on a Garmin GPS then you'll need to use Mapsource or Basecamp.

I've got no idea how to run Google Maps on a phone as I use a GPS.

[release_the_bees]

Fees paid and the alpha version of the route planned. It'll be a long six month wait - I'm very excited for this event after having to miss out last time.

At least I've got a good excuse to go for some long rides again now. It's been hard to find the time of late due to full time work and part time study.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[veldthui]

Hey everybody, Im considering doing the TT2000 next year and looking at the best way to do route planning.

Is there a quick and dirty way to learn the best tool for this? I see that the tt2000 web page has files for google maps and garmin gps with basecamp or map source.

Im buggered if I can figure out how to create a route from the google maps file, it only lets me see the locations.
Alternatively with basecamp/mapsource (looking at mapsource becuase I can use nzopen gps maps for free), it looks like map source doesnt follow roads when you create a route. is there a way to get this to happen? selecting points for every turn or junction in roads would take forever!

Cheers for your help

Both mapsource and basecamp should route just fine using the NZOpen maps. There is a bug in at least Basecamp that if you have set for North Up (think that is the one) then the route won't display on the map properly. It will be off every so slightly. I use Basecamp and NZOpen maps. There is sometimes a few issues routing things automatically due to something not quite right in the maps but it is obvious when it does and you can manually set a few via points.

[Danger Mouse]

Are you sure you have a map installed on Mapsource? It should definitely be able to plot a route between two checkpoints. You may need to add extra way points to get it to follow a particular set of roads if you don't like what it initially suggests.

Google Maps will do it although it takes some work (as does Mapsource) but if you're planning on running it on a Garmin GPS then you'll need to use Mapsource or Basecamp.

I've got no idea how to run Google Maps on a phone as I use a GPS.


Yep, that was it, thanks. Only had the default one.

Cheers!

[Danger Mouse]

Both mapsource and basecamp should route just fine using the NZOpen maps. There is a bug in at least Basecamp that if you have set for North Up (think that is the one) then the route won't display on the map properly. It will be off every so slightly. I use Basecamp and NZOpen maps. There is sometimes a few issues routing things automatically due to something not quite right in the maps but it is obvious when it does and you can manually set a few via points.

Thanks for that,
Ill give it a go. My GPS currently has MapToaster as the loaded map, so ive got another SD card, to throw on NZOpen maps if it has a problem with it.

Finally got google maps sorted with route planning as well. Didn't realise I had to save the map from the tt2000 site before I could modify it *facepalm.


This will be the longest ride ive done, any advice or expectations?
How long do you ride each day?
I read somewhere that clutchless shifting is a good idea to save your left hand. Hotel overnight, or camp it?

Ive got the list of 24 hour fuel stations. May get some more padding for my seat.
Appreciate any advice.

[banditrider]

Wrote this some time ago: http://banditrider.weebly.com/route-planning.html

Ride is doable with very minimal riding at night/in the dark. Make all stops quick ones. Plan, plan, plan...

Definitely one of my favourite rides of the year.

[BMWST?]

the trouble with camping is it takes a long time to set up and make camp /Motor camp with cabins would be an economical option.If you are going to do basecamp and nz open maps DO NOT USE the latest version of basecamp as it wont load the full nz open map(I have 4.6.2) you can dowload the waypoint s into basecamp/mapsource and then plan your route using them.Its a bit of a learning curve!

[wpoll]

the trouble with camping is it takes a long time to set up and make camp /Motor camp with cabins would be an economical option. ...

True, but I have camped on four TT rides and it works if you have a system... Ride until 10pm, an hour to set up camp, eat etc. then 6 hours sleep. Another hour to eat and pack up and you're on the road again by 6am.

I slept under the main bridge at Rakaia three nights in a row for one TT...! :shifty:

[Danger Mouse]

True, but I have camped on four TT rides and it works if you have a system... Ride until 10pm, an hour to set up camp, eat etc. then 6 hours sleep. Another hour to eat and pack up and you're on the road again by 6am.

I slept under the main bridge at Rakaia three nights in a row for one TT...! :shifty:

Do you do any practice runs so that you get your sequence completely sorted?

[wpoll]

Do you do any practice runs so that you get your sequence completely sorted?

Some riders do a few "practice trips" but most rely on careful planning. And while some riders plan their ride down to the minute, that is cerainly not required - many riders have successfully completed the TT2000 challenge with little or no planning (other than turning up!). ;)

It's a good idea to have a considered plan though, so you can gauge your progress, find fuel, get some sleep etc.

I have also been known to tell riders, plan your ride and ride your plan. :2thumbsup

[veldthui]

Some riders do a few "practice trips" but most rely on careful planning. And swhile some riders plan their ride down to the minute, that is cerainly not required - many riders have successfully completed the TT2000 challenge with little or no planning (other than turning up!). ;)

It's a good idea to have a considered plan though, so you can gauge your progress, find fuel, get some sleep etc.

I have also been known to tell riders, plan your ride and ride your plan. :2thumbsup

I plan mine and what stops I need to make and when to pick up fuel. However one year I remember going over the Takaka hill, collecting all the photos I needed and stopped at Motueka for he night. Going through what I should have done found I had missed the big number stop and had to make a second trip over the hill just to get it. Happened because I got my pages out of order in my planning. I always quadruple check now. I usually have extra points in my plan so I can miss a couple of stops if I am running behind (or the weather is bad like last February). My GPS tell me where to go (usually okay but sometimes leads me down gravel roads that I don't like)

[Racing Dave]

Do you do any practice runs so that you get your sequence completely sorted?

I have ridden 11 TT2000s and although I have only had practice runs on a few of them, what I always do have for each is a definite plan. Winging it doesn't work for me. One advantage of practicing is that it allows you to be certain of what is at each checkpoint's venue and this is particularly helpful on ones found on gravel roads, where there is no Google Street View to show what's around. A perfect example of this was on this year's Ashburton Adventure Flyer, found a km down a rutted sandy track on Rakaia Island. I went there twice in advance of the TT and note that in other's post-ride reports that a lot of time was wasted here, with uncertain navigation. Time spent in the pits is average speed diminished!

And speaking of average speed, there can be a big variation between what you think you might achieve and what you can achieve. Practice removes this doubt. It also allows me to be certain that Wayne hasn't made any inadvertent mistakes, although these are very rare indeed - well done Wayne!

For this year's TT I pre-rode the entire course over two separate days. This gave me the confidence to have a crack at getting all the checkpoints and, at the risk of blowing my own trumpet I was the only rider to do so under the 48-hour limit.

I navigate using a rolling route-sheet in a Clik-Clak lunchbox, the same as used on self-navigated adventure rides, and a GPS. This allows me to make notes to remind me of (for eggs sample) exact photo requirements and also means that by constantly comparing the two, I can be certain that I haven't made any errors. It can happen!

[wpoll]

Hey everybody, Im considering doing the TT2000 next year and looking at the best way to do route planning.

Is there a quick and dirty way to learn the best tool for this? I see that the tt2000 web page has files for google maps and garmin gps with basecamp or map source.

Im buggered if I can figure out how to create a route from the google maps file, it only lets me see the locations.
Alternatively with basecamp/mapsource (looking at mapsource becuase I can use nzopen gps maps for free), it looks like map source doesnt follow roads when you create a route. is there a way to get this to happen? selecting points for every turn or junction in roads would take forever!

Cheers for your help

Late answering this but....

To use the TT2000 Google Map, save a copy to to your own Google account - you cannot modify the map on my account! :shifty:

Re. routing on Garmin software with NZOpenGPS maps, as long as the maps are installed corretly, and you've turned off any other map sets, the NZOpenGPS maps should auto-route.

I install the NZOpenGPS maps into Basecamp using Garmin Map Manager (on MacOS). Maps are here: -

http://www.nzopengps.org/public/Mac/

I'm currently using the 23/09/18 versions - later versions have some updates that don't work weil with Basecamp on my Mac or my GPS (Garmin 60CSx).

[Euro2018]

Planning tools ?
I printed the checkpoints map, roughly decided a route (north via Taranaki, then east then south to Ashhurst), then opened a blank spreadsheet and started typing stuff in.
The spreadsheet adds up time, points and distance to ensure I’m on track.
Then calculate average speed for each day.
I know from my recent 1KC trip I can achieve 75 kmh average (incl checkpoints & fuel stops).

Then I’ll work out exact addresses and probably plug them into Waze for navigation

[veldthui]

the trouble with camping is it takes a long time to set up and make camp /Motor camp with cabins would be an economical option.If you are going to do basecamp and nz open maps DO NOT USE the latest version of basecamp as it wont load the full nz open map(I have 4.6.2) you can dowload the waypoint s into basecamp/mapsource and then plan your route using them.Its a bit of a learning curve!

There is a new version out now. 4.7.1. Anyone want to see if the bug is fixed?

[wpoll]

There is a new version out now. 4.7.1. Anyone want to see if the bug is fixed?

The Mac version is only up to v4.7.0 and it runs NZOpenGPS maps fine. Can't say the same for my Garmin 60CSx - latest NZOpenGPS maps that will run on that (without a lock-up) is July. 2017 - which unfortunately won't route via Kaikoura (the Kaikoura SH1 road was closed back then!).

Given the the NZOpenGPS prjects appears to have abandoned Mac support, I might switch my Basecamp to Windows and test....

[Gremlin]

Appreciate any advice.
Planning is key to me, and knowing your gear, your process.

When doing the big distances, the names of the checkpoints (number and descriptive, while limiting characters) reduces thinking. Prep putting the waypoint exactly where it needs to be, eliminates time locating. All the TTs I did were South Island, I live in Auckland, so no rides to practise or check waypoints etc, just time in front of PC.

Knowing your equipment. How much gas will you get, at distance pace. Not what you get when cruising with mates for an hour, but doing 90kph avg to crunch the distance. Where are you stopping for gas, what time, will they be open or closed. If closed, checking days before that the card system is operating (no-one is around at 2am) and they have stock of the fuel you need. How much will you slow when you hit gravel or a technical road.

Some TTs had a lot of pictures (like 70+). If you can get your stop down to 1min (inc slowing down, stopping, taking pic, getting back up to speed) you're doing extremely well. Thats more than an hour of lost time you can't avoid. If you can do 2min... now it's more than 2 hours of lost time. Many times no-one moved in the time I saw the stop, took the pic and left. I always took a few minutes right at the start to tape the shirt (in bag) to the tank. One less thing to deal with when stopping.

If you need fuel every 2 hours, then how long will your stop be for fuel, food, drink, toilet. You want to combine and minimise stops, as it's not easy getting the time back. Don't block the pump more than necessary, move off after fueling so others can get in (depends on the route, timing). I was doing 500km in 5.5 hours with 0.5 hour stop, so 500km in 6 hours, which gave me 2000km in 24 hours. In contrast, I did 1850km in 25.5 hours when throwing in multiple stretches of gravel, high country passes in the middle of the night etc. You don't have to do the extreme stuff of course.

Gear is very important, along with nutrition. You can do a 2-3 hour ride getting cold. On a long ride, the body burns energy trying to stay warm, quickly making you tired, so you want to stay warm, with good effective layers. Avoid stuff like coffee and energy drinks, look for slow release stuff like nuts, nut bars etc. Hydrabak is useful for grabbing a drink while going through towns, especially with a flip helmet as it means no stopping.

[wpoll]

Only 10 days left to register, folks. Time to get off the fence and into the riders list! :chase:

https://www.tt2000.org

*edit* As of 1st Feb. 2020 registrations for the 2020 event are closed...

[Racing Dave]

Anyone arranged for a boat to get between the Whatawhata Flyer and the Whatawhata ADV Flyer? Looks the quickest way to get those 'easy' points.

[banditrider]

TT2000 write-up: http://banditrider.weebly.com/2020-tt2000.html

[wpoll]

Linking to 2021 TT2000 thread....

https://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/188465-2021-TT2000-is-on!!